In mid-October, Mom woke up with a back ache that changed her life.  An MRI revealed a compressed fracture, bulging discs, and worsening arthritis. Now robbed her of independence, she watched my sister and me morph into hovering daughters. Never far away, we swoop in to make sure she eats, takes her medication, and fights through chronic pain.

Mom is patient with our hovering, and we are soooooooooooooooo grateful for her!

Cute Mom and her two HELI-DAUGHTERS!

Failure to win the “My Mother is the World’s Best” in-50-to-100-words-or-less contest back in the day convinced me I was a poor writer and a pathetic daughter. This time around, however, I not only learned from preparing my entry, I also benefited from reading  the winning efforts.

I’ll do better next time.

And I still think I have the world’s best mother!

I still remember the story behind the story of this essay, but I just couldn't tell it in 97 words!

Hmmm. I think I thought bringing God into the content would increase my chances even though I could only eek out 85 words.

This 1902 novel by Owen Wister, “almost single-handedly established the cowboy archetype” (Recorded Books Classic Library).

While today’s readers may be disappointed that scenes of hanging and shooting don’t occur until three-quarters in, some might appreciate the story’s deep philosophical character study. BUT what female can resist the romantic hero? Why the cowpuncher’s three-year courtship of high-spirited Molly Wood of Vermont is more tender than even Jane Austen could have imagined.

Interestingly, Wister’s description of the handsome hero did not make me envision Gary Cooper or James Drury, but rather my great-grandfather, a once-living ringer for the fictional character.

Great Grandmother Elizabeth's brand of beauty may not have been considered adequate for the screen role of Miss Molly Wood, but in reality, she was a perfect match for the school teacher.

Yes, Great-Grandpa Henry's photo fits Wister's description of the nameless cowpuncher perfectly.

• Establishing the setting and the problem is still a good way to start a story.
• Chapters don’t HAVE to include “action” scenes to build suspense.

A Favorite Photo of a Favorite Person

Inspired by information about Grant Faulkner, the new executive director of NaNoWriMo,  I think I’ve come upon a solution. It seems that Mr. Faulkner runs an online literary journal – 100 Word Story – and thus launched MY epiphany: I can limit my entries to 100 words or less, AND I will post at least one or two times a week.

I don’t have enough words left to say anything else, and captions don’t count!

Caio

EPIPHANY: When you realize your future isn't mixed in with noodles.

Culmination of colors to celebrate

The death of a season in an

Ostentatious flourish like no other.

Bidding farewell to days of light, the

Eve of All Hallows

Rouses the sleepers beneath stones.

October is a favorite month of mine, and even though the tenth month of the eleventh year of the twenty-first century was not without its challenges, there were some great times spent with my Utah AND my California grandkidlets. The following few pictures of MANY celebrate time spent at “THIS IS THE PLACE” HERITAGE PARK  over fall break and ROSEVILLE, CA over Halloween. Regardless of life’s trials, grandchildren can brighten even the darkest of days, and I am blessed to have TEN adorable, brilliant, loving ones who call me GrammaNae.

Perfect Autumn Day at Heritage Park

The Littlest Shepherdess

Hangin' out at the Corral

Miss Mia and Miss NannyGoat

Carter LOVES Tootsie Roll Pops

Panning for Gold!

Halloween House - The Girls' Rendition

The Boys' Creation - VERY Scary!

Brayden TOTALLY gagged while "de-gutting" this gourd!

Drewbie chose the GREAT PUMPKIN to carve!

The Girls appreciated Grampa Gary's help!

Abby's Original Happy Face Pumpkin Shouts BOO!

Drew's Angry Bird AND Pig on ONE Pumpkin!

Check out Brayden's PIRATE FISH there on the end

The Devine Miss M

OOH-RAH!

The RED Ninja!

Carter the Space Cop!

Kickin' Back After SO Many Good Times!

Be it Halloween or Independence Day, she makes EVERY day a joy with her happy disposition and creative energy.

Nearly all the candy in her display is NOT edible but decorative AND she made them all! Luann is NOT paid to do this; nor is she reimbursed for supplies.

She just does it for the fun of it.

Amazing. 

I couldn’t resist honoring Luann by photographing her creation and using it as my banner this month.

Happy Holidays EVERYONE!

Busy times ramped up starting in August. With school starting, there is always tons to do at the school district office,  and even more so this year. My terrific friend and boss headed for Great Britain for 3 – yes, I said 3 – weeks. She deserved the get-away, and so I didn’t mind the extra workload.

In spite of the insanity, I was able to fly to San Diego on September 15th for an amazingly cheap price with the purpose of spending a couple of days exploring the San Diego Zoo and Sea World with two of my grandaughters. (Why can’t I spell grand daughters with one “d”? It makes total sense to me?”)

I don’t know why I feel I have to explain my reason for leaving at such a busy time, but I do. It’s the guilt complex I have cultivated over many years, I guess. Anyway, I originally volunteered to go so that my daughter-in-law would not have to drive back to Salt Lake City alone with her 5 and 2-years-old girls. AND I found the cheap flight.

Before even leaving, I learned that my son did not have to stay at the conference as long as he anticipated, and he could drive back after all. But I HAD to go because I purchased that inexpensive airline ticket, right? So I went; shared the tiniest room the Hilton Hotel offers with 2 adults, 2 little ones, and 15,000 pounds of luggage. Nevertheless, it was a great time, and here are the pix to prove it.

San Sea Diego Zoo World!

Craziest photo I could find of me - t'was taken LAST November in Bahston

I’ve tried the SANE way – writing every day… worked for a minute; writing a certain amount of words daily … ditto; writing at the same time each day … no luck; write with a buddy … buddy bailed; tried a “MiniWriMo” … same sad story; started and stopped writing a mash-up novel by sort of plagiarizing Thomas Hardy. Sigh.

So here goes.

I told G.E. about my goal and he didn’t even say, “What? Are you NUTS? Aren’t you busy enough? You’re already glued to the computer.” Etc.

I shared my writing idea with him AND read the first 1000 words to him. He was “almost” enthusiastic. Hey! That’s good for the man, okay? He even fell asleep last night without growling – and I mean literally growling – at me to turn off the light. (The growl is really cute and always makes me smile.) Anyway, I typed for about an hour! And then read “until I learned something.”

I plan to leave “mini-posts” to document my progress along the way, but not until after I post my “Autumn Album” tomorrow – LOTS of cute pix of my grandkidlets between September and November.

In the meantime AND if your curious, I’ve written – drum roll, please -

4161 words!

and yes, I’m behind.

This is NO disguise. This is my way of bringing attention to prostate cancer. Not exactly the equivalent killer that breast cancer is to women, it is still a devastating illness for many men. I realize that many of you may know someone who suffers from this form of cancer, and you may think, “Oh, men can live long lives after being diagnosed.” My father-in-law contracted prostate cancer, but that is not what took his life. Many years ago, John Huntsman, Sr. was informed he had the disease, and he was inspired to build the Huntsman Cancer Center as a result. He’s still among the living.

What some don’t know – and I used to be among those – is that the younger the man is when he contracts this disease, usually under 60, the more likely it is to spread into a deadly disease. G.E. and I know a very fine man who has battled prostate cancer for ten years. He is close to our age and has yet to beat it. He may not. So in addition to praying for this great husband, father, and grandpa, I am also sporting this mustache for him. (G.E. would grow one, too, if his employer allowed it.)

Nevertheless, many men are sporting mustaches during the month of November. And a few women, too.